Stark Reminders on the Need for Solutions for Climate-Driven Displacement
By Fred Krupp, President of the Environmental Defense Fund, and Dr. Elizabeth Ferris, Director of the Institute for the Study of International Migration in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
Throughout 2024, communities across the globe have been devastated by extreme weather, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Recent hurricanes have wreaked havoc across the Caribbean and the Southeastern U.S., forcing thousands to evacuate. Meanwhile, wildfires in Canada and the Western U.S. have devastated communities, with vast regions being impacted by smoke and air pollution. From hurricanes and flooding to wildfires and droughts, these events increasingly drive forced migration. The frequency and severity of such climate-related disasters are intensifying, underscoring the urgent need to address climate-driven displacement.
These extreme weather events have occurred worldwide, indicating that climate-related migration is a global phenomenon. Whether temporary or permanent, displacement will only become more common as climate impacts worsen. Coordinated efforts are crucial to help people adapt, rebuild, and navigate the difficult decisions they face in the wake of these events.
In our roles as President of the Environmental Defense Fund and Director of the Institute for the Study of International Migration – and members of the Climate Migration Council – we have seen how the climate crisis is forcing people to leave their homes in search of a safer future. We can no longer treat climate-related migration as separate from the larger fight against climate change.
According to the United Nations, an unprecedented 110 million people globally were displaced in 2023, and this number is expected to increase throughout the coming decades, for reasons including insufficient adaptation and prevention efforts, and a failure to curb greenhouse gas emissions sufficiently. A 2024 report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre sheds light on the harsh realities of life for climate migrants, filled with instability and hardship. Integration into new communities poses barriers from underemployment to a lack of proper housing and essential services, heightening the vulnerability of displaced people.
Addressing the needs of migrants affected by climate-related displacement requires a comprehensive approach, including humanitarian assistance, legal protections, and long-term resettlement and integration support. These solutions are the focal point of the Climate Migration Council’s Compendium on Climate Mobility, the latest resource communities and governments can use to advance more concerted efforts on mobility within the context of the climate crisis.
Any response to a disaster must first and foremost include immediate humanitarian aid necessary to provide shelter, water, food, and medical care, as well as tailored protection for most affected peoples. While we must continue to invest in disaster preparedness and emergency response measures to ensure safety for those who are displaced, we must also take proactive steps to invest in anticipatory measures that can preempt unnecessary climate-related displacement.
Despite the commitments made on a global scale to reduce global warming, the severe weather impacts of climate change are already present. The U.S. must aggressively work to mitigate global warming. Still, it simultaneously must fund adaptation measures to ensure that people in the U.S. and around the globe build the resilience needed to move safely when faced with extreme weather or to acclimate in place. Prioritizing the funding of climate adaptation in legislative efforts can avert and minimize the drivers of displacement. We must do more to foster collaboration and develop new solutions that mitigate the impact of climate change on migration.
Global collaboration to scale up prevention efforts – such as investing in early warning systems, building climate-resilient infrastructure, supporting community-led adaptation and planned relocation, and developing sustainable energy and land management practices – is crucial to preventing and managing displacement. By engaging local communities in decision-making processes and policy-making, we can build resilience and reduce displacement by tailoring solutions to the specific needs and contexts of each community.
As we navigate the recent devastating extreme weather events across the globe, we must center our efforts on the principles of equity, justice, and human dignity, as we work to support impacted communities. Governments, particularly local governments, need to consider the likely impact of climate change on migration from and to their communities, taking measures to reduce the risk of disasters and to ensure that those who do move can do so safely. In the U.S., federal policymakers must support these local communities as they navigate this changing landscape.
Although the road ahead will be challenging, confronting the global climate crisis will present opportunities for global collaboration and solidarity. Events like the global climate conference COP29 provide a necessary opportunity for nations to unite and prioritize comprehensive, global solutions to climate-related migration. Together, we can build a more resilient future for all.
Fred Krupp is the President of the Environmental Defense Fund.
Dr. Elizabeth Ferris is the Director of the Institute for the Study of International Migration in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.